Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Rezé vs Saint-Nazaire (44): 2026 comparison

Saint-Nazaire has more inhabitants than Rezé: 76,243 versus 44,286, or 72% more. Saint-Nazaire covers a larger area (46.8 km² versus 13.8 km²), but Rezé is more densely populated: 3,214 inhabitants per km² versus 1,629.

The median apartment price is higher in Saint-Nazaire: €2,917 per m² versus €2,734. The median standard of living is higher in Rezé (€26,580 a year versus €24,750).

The two cities are 53 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.

RezéSaint-Nazaire
RezéSaint-Nazaire53 km as the crow flies

© Pymouss44, CC BY-SA 3.0

Rezé

City in Loire-Atlantique

Loire-Atlantique44Pays de la Loire

Population
44,286 inhab.
170th in France · 4th in its department
Area
13.8 km²
Density
3,214 per km²
Full profile of Rezé

Saint-Nazaire

City in Loire-Atlantique

Loire-Atlantique44Pays de la Loire

Population
76,243 inhab.
69th in France · 2nd in its department
Area
46.8 km²
Density
1,629 per km²
Full profile of Saint-Nazaire

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

RezéSaint-Nazaire

Population: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Saint-Nazaire+72%44,28676,243More populous: Saint-Nazaire+72%
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Saint-Nazaire+2.8 pts+2.8%+5.6%Stronger growth: Saint-Nazaire+2.8 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Rezé+1.2 pt+10.1%+8.8%Stronger growth: Rezé+1.2 pt
Density per km²Denser: Rezé+97%3,2141,629Denser: Rezé+97%
Under 15More young people: Rezé+1.4 pt17.4%15.9%More young people: Rezé+1.4 pt
65 and overMore seniors: Saint-Nazaire+6.1 pts18.5%24.6%More seniors: Saint-Nazaire+6.1 pts
People per householdLarger households: Rezé+0.142.041.90Larger households: Rezé+0.14

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Saint-Nazaire+7%2,7342,917More expensive: Saint-Nazaire+7%
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Rezé+21%3,5842,955More expensive: Rezé+21%
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Rezé+5%13.412.8More expensive: Rezé+5%
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedTie12.412.4Tie
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Rezé+10 pts58.1%47.8%More homeowners: Rezé+10 pts
Share of housesMore houses: Rezé+8.6 pts46.6%37.9%More houses: Rezé+8.6 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Saint-Nazaire+3.9 pts25.0%28.9%More social housing: Saint-Nazaire+3.9 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Saint-Nazaire+4.5 pts2.0%6.5%More second homes: Saint-Nazaire+4.5 pts
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Saint-Nazaire+1.6 pt5.5%7.1%More vacant homes: Saint-Nazaire+1.6 pt
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Rezé+17 pts56.32%39.08%Higher rate: Rezé+17 pts

Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation

Income and jobs

Residents’ income and jobs

Income and jobs: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Rezé+7%26,58024,750Higher: Rezé+7%
Poverty rateHigher: Saint-Nazaire+3.9 pts14.1%18.0%Higher: Saint-Nazaire+3.9 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Rezé+7%€30,094€28,112Higher: Rezé+7%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Rezé+3.7 pts51%47%More taxpaying households: Rezé+3.7 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Rezé+4.6 pts79.0%74.4%Higher: Rezé+4.6 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Saint-Nazaire+3.8 pts9.2%13.0%Higher: Saint-Nazaire+3.8 pts

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
MayorAgnès BourgeaisDavid Samzun
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Samemiscellaneous leftmiscellaneous leftSame
Premises with fiberBetter covered: Rezé+2.3 pts99%96%Better covered: Rezé+2.3 pts

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Rezé+10%54.9243 in total50.0381 in totalMore shops per capita: Rezé+10%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Nazaire+5%14.765 in total15.5118 in totalMore per capita: Saint-Nazaire+5%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Nazaire+55%18.783 in total29.0221 in totalMore per capita: Saint-Nazaire+55%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rezé+13%18.783 in total16.7127 in totalMore per capita: Rezé+13%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Nazaire+74%1.15 in total2.015 in totalMore per capita: Saint-Nazaire+74%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Nazaire+28%1.15 in total1.411 in totalMore per capita: Saint-Nazaire+28%
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Saint-Nazaire+213More stations: Saint-Nazaire+2

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Rezé+49%5.53.7Better access: Rezé+49%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rezé+57%18.381 in total11.789 in totalMore per capita: Rezé+57%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Nazaire3.5 times as high6.529 in total23.2177 in totalMore per capita: Saint-Nazaire3.5 times as high
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Rezé+91%9.040 in total4.736 in totalMore per capita: Rezé+91%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Saint-Nazaire+27%2.511 in total3.124 in totalMore per capita: Saint-Nazaire+27%
HospitalsMore facilities: Saint-Nazaire+10313More facilities: Saint-Nazaire+10

Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)

Education

Schools and colleges

Education: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Saint-Nazaire+132033More schools: Saint-Nazaire+13
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Saint-Nazaire+4610More middle schools: Saint-Nazaire+4
High schoolsMore high schools: Saint-Nazaire+8412More high schools: Saint-Nazaire+8
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Saint-Nazaire+6612More facilities: Saint-Nazaire+6

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Rezé+2%7.06.9Higher rate: Rezé+2%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Nazaire+75%9.116.0Higher rate: Saint-Nazaire+75%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Nazaire+38%2.73.8Higher rate: Saint-Nazaire+38%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Rezé+83%3.72.0Higher rate: Rezé+83%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Saint-Nazaire+50%8.913.3Higher rate: Saint-Nazaire+50%

Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)

Climate

Temperature, sunshine and rain

Climate: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Rezé+0.1 °C12.7°C12.6°CWarmer: Rezé+0.1 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Saint-Nazaire+1%1,8731,893Sunnier: Saint-Nazaire+1%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Rezé+3%820792Wetter: Rezé+3%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Rezé+4 days/year120116More rainy days: Rezé+4 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Rezé+2 days/year2927More frost days: Rezé+2 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Rezé+3 days/year129More hot days: Rezé+3 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Rezé+21210More declarations: Rezé+2
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Rezé+121More plans: Rezé+1
Radon potentialSignificantLow

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire compared
CriterionRezéSaint-NazaireDifference
Area km²Larger: Saint-Nazaire3.4 times as high13.846.8Larger: Saint-Nazaire3.4 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Saint-Nazaire+0 m11 m12 mHigher: Saint-Nazaire+0 m
Coastal communeNoYes (sea)
Density grid (INSEE)Large urban centreIntermediate urban centre
DepartmentSameLoire-Atlantique (44)Loire-Atlantique (44)Same
IntercommunalityNantes MétropoleCommunauté d'agglomération de la Région Nazairienne et de l'Estuaire (CARENE)
Urban unitNantesSaint-Nazaire
Functional areaNantesSaint-Nazaire

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Rezé vs Saint-Nazaire (44) at a glance

Summary table: Rezé and Saint-Nazaire
CriterionRezéSaint-Nazaire
Population inhab.44,28676,243
Change over 10 years+10.1%+8.8%
Density per km²3,2141,629
Median apartment price €/m²2,7342,917
Median house price €/m²3,5842,955
Apartment rent €/m²13.412.8
Property tax (combined rate)56.32%39.08%
Median standard of living €/year26,58024,750
Unemployment rate (census)9.2%13.0%
Premises with fiber99%96%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year5.53.7
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes7.06.9
Average temperature12.7°C12.6°C
Sunshine h/year1,8731,893
Area km²13.846.8

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Rezé vs Saint-Nazaire (44): your questions

Which is the larger city, Rezé or Saint-Nazaire?

By population, Saint-Nazaire: 76,243 inhabitants versus 44,286 for Rezé (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Saint-Nazaire is the 69th largest city in France, Rezé the 170th. By area, Saint-Nazaire is also the larger (46.8 km²).

How far is Rezé from Saint-Nazaire?

Rezé and Saint-Nazaire are 53 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (Loire-Atlantique).

Where is real estate more expensive, in Rezé or Saint-Nazaire?

To buy an apartment, Saint-Nazaire is more expensive: €2,917 per m² (median price), versus €2,734 in Rezé (+7%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Rezé or Saint-Nazaire?

In Rezé, half of the residents have a standard of living above €26,580 a year, versus €24,750 in Saint-Nazaire (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Rezé or Saint-Nazaire?

Saint-Nazaire: 1,893 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,873 in Rezé (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

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